Bird Park in East Walpole, MA, is a
TrueOasis
in Southwest Suburban Boston

Article
and photo by Eric H.

A
tour of New England requires plenty of time -- perhaps a lifetime, as
every community in New England offers some form of pure regional flavor.

It's
just not the obvious travel guide destinations that ultimately put New
England on the map as one of the great regions of the United States.,
but also the lesser known communities. In the small New England towns
and villages, it is easy to find unspoiled,
non-commercialized areas that offer true rest and relaxation. A great
example of "hidden New England" is Francis William Bird Park in the
appealing southwest Boston suburb of Walpole, MA -- a town mixing
suburbia with rural farmland. This pastoral gem boasts 89 acres of
gentle rolling parkland framed by tall, majestic trees and a scenic
part of the Neponset River. Large stone walkways lead you past open,
grassy fields, small walking bridges overlooking the water, mature
shade trees, tree groves, and ponds. Recreational opportunities abound
-- a well-constructed playground for children five years-old and
younger, tennis and basketball courts, cross country skiing, picnic
areas and a bandstand for concerts.

Architect
John Nolen designed Bird Park, which was created and endowed by Charles
Sumner Bird in 1925 and his wife Anna in memory of their son Francis
William Bird (1881-1925). Nolen envisioned Bird Park as "a sequestered
breathing place in the heart of East Walpole, a combination of broad,
sun-swept meadow lands, speckled with shadowed glades, higher
tree-screened knolls for the lover of shade, the whole set to the music
of a babbling stream."

Times
have changed, but Nolen's vision has remained at this relaxing oasis,
no matter what time of the year. Thankfully, the Trustees of
Reservations (overseeing 53,000 acres on 94 reservations in
Massachusetts), with a deep respect for Bird Park's beauty, acquired
the land in 2003. The Trustee's mission is "to preserve, for public use
and enjoyment, properties of exceptionalscenic,
historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts."

They
have certainly done just that at Bird Park, as the maintenance of the
land looks better than ever. It is unspoiled New England land to enjoy
and respect, a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of metro
Boston.

Editor's
note: Bird Park is located on Washington Street in Walpole, MA. Tel.
(508) 669-6136. For more information on the Trustees of the
Reservations, visit its Web
Site

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